The Munich Literature Festival 2026 will be held in Munich, Germany, from 21 to 30 April. The festival, which has been organized since 2010, is curated this year by Dana Grigorcea. The festival brings together writers, artists, and thinkers from different countries around the theme of “Freedom.”
Kurdish writer and poet Meral Şimşek is also included in the festival program. On 22 April, Şimşek will take the stage at an event titled “Voices of Freedom” together with Eritrean poet Yirgalem Fisseha Mebrahtu and Syrian writer Yassin Al-Haj Saleh. The event will address the relationship between literature and topics such as prison, exile, and freedom of expression.
As part of the festival, Şimşek will also perform her Kurdish work titled “Rûmet.” The artist states that she dedicated this work to her relatives who lost their lives.
The festival will open on 21 April. Belarusian artist Maria Kalesnikava will give a speech at the opening, while cellist Raphaela Gromes and artist Dan Perjovschi will also be part of the program.
As part of the program, Maria Alyokhina will also hold a talk about developments in Russia. Reading events will be organized on 23 April for World Book Day. Throughout the festival there will be talks, reading programs, film screenings, and various workshops.
Names such as Gabriela Adameșteanu, Navid Kermani, and Robert Menasse will also take part in the event. The festival aims to open discussion on the relationship between literature and current social issues.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
21 April / 19:00 – Opening: Dana Grigorcea, Maria Kalesnikava, Raphaela Gromes, Dan Perjovschi
22 April / 18:00 – Voices of Freedom: Meral Şimşek, Yirgalem Fisseha Mebrahtu, Yassin Al-Haj Saleh
22 April / 20:30 – Talk with Maria Alyokhina
23 April / 20:00 – World Book Day reading night
25 April / 20:00 – Concert: Daniel Kahn
26 April / 18:00 – Reading by Robert Menasse
28 April / 20:30 – Event with Navid Kermani
Leave a Reply